G-as-regtjlator



T. an C. CHAMPION. GAS SAVING, APPARATUS. No. 29,246. Patented July 24.1860.

PETERS co.. vnofuuwn., msmneros, b. c.

ma Nonms 7) Masas;

OFFICE.,

THOMAS CHAMPION, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND CHARLES CHAMPION, OF ELDORADO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

GAS-REGULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 29,246, dated July 24, 1860.

To all whom it' may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS CHAMPION, of the city of lashington, in the District of Columbia, and CHARLES CHAMPION, of the county of Eldorado, in the State of California, have invented certain new and useful improvements in apparatus adapted to the regulating and saving of gas, being an appendage to the gas-meter; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, and in which- Figure l, represents a vertical section through the center of the apparatus; Fig. 2, represents an elevation of the valve and valve stem, detached from its seat, and showing the key by which it is adjusted, applied to its upper end; Fig. 3, represents a plan of the flanged nut which connects the valve and diaphragm; this nut is also shown in section in Fig. l, and in elevation in Fig. 2. Fig. 4, represents the flexible air valve detached and turned bottom upward; Fig. 5, a section of a modified form of air valve; Fig. 6, represents a section of a modified form of flanged nut which connects the valve stem and diaphragm.

The nature of our invention consists in so combining the diaphragm, the valve, and its screw stem, with the flanged nut, having an interior and exterior' thread and with long bearing on the valve stem, as that the valve may be adjusted by means of a key inserted into the air chamber; to increase or diminish the flow of gas to the burners without having to extinguish the lights, the valve stem having no fixed attachment to the ease other than the diaphragm, and is consequently always free to rise and fall even while making the adjustments. IVe are aware however, that gas regulators have been adj usted without putting out the lights, but this has been accomplished by means very different from ours, and possessing disadvantages which it is the object of our invention to remedy.

Our invention further consists in combining with the air chamber an air passage, and a flexible valve over it, for the double purpose of admitting air to the chamber on the upper side of the diaphragm to counteract the pressure of the gas on its underside, and at the same time to act as a safety valve to close the aperture against the admission of air in case of a rupture in the diaphragm, by the pressure of the gas passing through the rupture and acting against said flexible valve to close it, and thereby preventing the escape of gas into the building; and consequently the danger of explosion.

In the accompanying drawing A represents a globular shaped case, composed of two parts joined together with flanges, be-

tween is confined a horizontal diaphragm so as to form a gas chamber B and an air chamber C, within said case. This case is located above the meter and is connected therewith by a union which also forms a chamber within which the valve may work.

E is a branch leading from the gas chamber with which the pipe to the burners is connected.

rl`he diaphragm F is made of leather or any other suitable material, and is secured to the stem a of the valve by means which will be presently described. The valve Z9 is secured to the lower end of the stem a and together with its seat c is constructed in the 8o which the diaphragm is clamped, and renders the central part stiff which steadies it and the valve in their action. The fianged nut is constructed with a shank which projects through the diaphragm into the air chamber and is clamped to the diaphragm by means of a nut e screwed down uponthe diaphragm so that the latter is firmly clamped between it and the flange of the nut. The socket in the shank of the flanged nut forms a long bearing for the valve stem and is fitted with a screw thread to receive the stem of the valve, which is likewise fitted with a screw thread, by which connection it will be seen that the turning of the stem to the right or left will effect the required adjustment of the valve. The joint is thus rendered tight and the stem passes through the diaphragm without touching it or the clamp nut.

In the air chamber directly above the end 11a air 85 of the valve stem. There is an opening H, into Which is screwed a cap I, having an opening communicating with the air chamber. This cap is fitted on its inner side With a' valve J having a series of openings in it as seen in Fig. 4, made of leather orrother flexible material, so that it Will remain open by the pressure of the air Without so long as the diaphragm acts to divide the -tWo chambers, but when from the pressure of the gas or any other cause the diaphragm becomes rent or split, then the said valve Will perform the function of a safety valve, and immediately act to close the communication through the cap by being pressed up against it and thus shut olf the escape of gas into the building, While the burners continue to be supplied.

In order to make the necessary adjustments of the valve to regulate the flow of the gas from the meter, the air valve cap is removed, and a key K shown in Fig. 2 is fitted to the end of the valve stem and turned to the right or left as the case may be, the flanged nut it Will be seen being, stationary the stem a. Will rise or fall and with it the valve b will be made to approach nearer to o1' go farther from its seat, and thus regulate the proper quantity to the burners.

Instead of the ilexible valve described above a metallic valve may be used having a stem inserted through the cap, with a broad face below, vvith` flutes or grooves around the stem in the cap, or in the stem itself, or the stem may be hollow With open ings into said hollov7 stem between the faces, or the stem may be made small enough to admit the air Without the holes or fluting, and said valve acting to cut off the gas if Vnecessary the same as the flexible valve.

Instead of the flanged nut in Figs. l, and 2, for connecting the diaphragm to the valve stem, the flanged nut may be made hollow so as to receive another nut and packing between them as shown in Fig. 6. This is to render the connection tighter and prevent the escape of gas into the air chamber.

What We claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. In combination With a valve and valve stein and an elastic diaphragm, a flanged nut d, for connecting said stem and diaphragm the Whole being encased Within an outer shell, substantially in the manner, and for the purpose, herein described.

2. In combination with an inclosed diaphragm, and in inclosed chamber, the air opening in the cap I, and the valve J, for the double purpose of furnishing atmospheric air to the inclosed chamber when the regulator is Working, and for closing said air opening should the diaphragm rupture, substantially as described.

THOMAS CHAMPION. CHARLES CHAMPION. Witnesses:

THOMAS C. DoNN, JNO. Gr. DoNN. 

